Next week's AGM will set the tone for the boxing year ahead with several hugely significant events planned over the next 12 months

If the collective national gold medal glory of Cork clubs won in recent years was illustrated on a portrait on the wall, the blazing energy of Cork's amateur boxing triumphs would mirror an unstoppable momentum akin to that of a volcanic eruption.

Against this background club delegates will gather next week at the AGM of the Cork County Boxing Board. 

However, this will not be a meeting of the mutual admiration society. 

This meeting will reflect on a local review of the body boxing. 

Inside the ring the athletes from all clubs have blazed a trail and this has magnificently enhanced the growing reputation of the sport. 

Outside of the ring Cork boxing needs to impose itself in a far greater way.

This is the view of the current Cork officer board. 

Long time Cork County Board secretary John Wiseman said the following.

"We need to have people of influence and friends on the Central Council, we have identified a number of candidates standing in the forthcoming election whom we believe if elected would be a great asset to Cork. 

"However, all we as a board can do is to ask the clubs to give consideration to those we have suggested, as the ultimate power in the election remains with the clubs."

The president of the board Michael O'Brien will highlight many of the progressive innovations introduced in recent times. 

In his report to the AGM, O'Brien will outline a summary of the calendar of events pencilled in for the next twelve months, with dates, venues, and times confirmed. 

The Leeside Boxing programme will include, 12 rounds of weekly leagues, four home inter-county events, an anticipated minimum of 20 club tournaments, the juvenile county championships in early February, and the big one:  'the Three-Day Festival of Senior Boxing' in Cork, which will take place in late April. 

The first of the four home inter-county matches takes place on Saturday, 24th October.

On that date the President of the IABA Anto Donnelly will lead a team from his home county of Louth to take on Cork's finest and the venue is the Na Piarsaigh GAA Complex Fair Hill. 

This location is part of the real traditional hinterland of Cork boxing and the surrounding areas. 

Per square inch of ground - this celebrated terrain is sacred in the annals of Cork's boxing history. 

The AGM will formally open another new boxing season. 

The Cork Officer Board will be returned unopposed and will continue to administrate in the southern capital for the next two years.

Elsewhere, County Board officials met recently with members of the Sunnyside Boxing Club. 

This meeting took place to discuss plans made by the club to celebrate their centenary having been established in 1927. 

This is the most successful club in Cork's boxing history, and the club will outline their plans for the momentous year in the near future. 

The County Board will also independently salute and honour the great achievements of the club. 

The president confirmed that in the first week of January the board will present the club with a very unique centenary certificate. 

Ten years ago, O'Brien and John Wiseman presented the first original one hundred year certificate to the Glen Boxing Club.

On that occasion Tommy Kelleher and Anthony Connolly stepped forward to receive the laurels, that certificate is proudly on display in the Tomàs MacCurtain Glen Boxing Museum today.

During the Sunnyside centenary year in many ways the club will be acknowledged by the board particularly during the three-day festival of Cork Senior Boxing.

During the festival, 12 Leeside Boxing Legends will be announced, and it is expected that a few Sunnysiders will make this list. 

Many big boxing personalities will flock to Cork for the three days including Olympic Champion Michael Carruth and former World Super Middleweight Champion Steve Collins. 

Meanwhile, that man with the famous Sunnyside name, Tommy Hyde, who today is a potential upcoming world champion himself - the young Tommy Hyde will act as an ambassador for the festival. 

This Festival is organised in unison by all three Cork Boxing Associations.

Cork Boxing officials have congratulated Glen Boxing chairman Anthony Connolly. 

Anthony has given 50 years of service to the Glen Boxing Club, and this year he celebrates his golden jubilee in the sport. 

Anthony will be toasted at a Cork boxing breakfast at the Muskerry Arms, Blarney on Saturday Morning next.

The sympathy of the Cork County Boxing Board has been extended to the Lucitt family following the recent passing of Ted. 

For many years Ted was much admired in the boxing world for the outstanding work he did with the Gaggin – Bandon Boxing Club. 

Ted was well known and respected throughout the entire country and his contribution to the promotion of boxing will always be admired and never forgotten. 

May he rest in peace.